PART ONE
Cadmus and his devout followers have created a temple to Juno, the queen of the gods, in order to bless the arranged marriage of his daughter Semele to Athamus. A sacred fire develops on the altar and the chorus proclaims that the omens for the marriage appear favorable. Semele arrives for the ceremony after many attempts to delay the marriage due her new love of Jupiter, the king of the gods. She pleads to Jupiter to intervene and his responding thunder interrupts the ceremony. The symbolic flames on the altar of Juno are extinguished as Cadmus prays for their return. Sensing a war between the immortal spouses, the chorus flees from the temple, but Athamus and Semele’s sister Ino remain.
Ino and Athamus each reveal surprising truths. Both are startled when Cadmus interrupts with the shocking news that Jupiter has abducted Semele. The trio languishes while Semele transcends to the realm of the gods.
Juno, angered at her husband’s adultery, has ordered her messenger Iris to discover where Semele has been taken. Iris reports that Jupiter has built his new mortal lover an elaborate palace guarded by fierce dragons that never sleep. The enraged Juno swears vengeance, and hurries to visit Somnus, the god of sleep, to demand his aid.
Semele wakes and immediately calls out for Jupiter. He arrives in human form, reassures her of his fidelity, and reminds her of her fragile mortality. Semele professes devotion to him, but reveals her discontent that she has not yet been made immortal. Sensing Semele’s dangerous ambition, Jupiter promises to summon her sister Ino from the earth to keep her company. As a gift, Jupiter transforms the palace into a beautiful garden to comfort and distract her…
PART TWO
Ino, enraptured, describes the extraordinary journey to the immortal realm. The sisters are joyfully reunited, but Semele is once again distracted by the pursuit of pleasure, immortality and love.
Somnus is disturbed from his deep sleep by the arrival of Juno and Iris. He wakes but refuses to help Juno. She barters, offering his favorite nymph in return for his aid and he relents. Juno orders Somnus to give Jupiter an erotic dream that will make him desperate for Semele. Juno then receives Somnus’ potent power in order to lull any being to sleep on command. She uses this new power to manipulate Ino, whom Juno puppets in order to convince Semele that she has been made as beautiful as a god.
Trusting her sister, Semele sees her glorified reflection and becomes narcissistically obsessed. Juno, still disguised as Ino, advises that if Semele wishes to become truly immortal, she must refuse Jupiter until he promises to grant any wish she desires. The disguised Juno suggests that Semele demand Jupiter to appear to her only in his true form. Semele eagerly accepts this advice. Juno departs when she senses the approach of her husband.
Jupiter is alarmed when Semele rejects him. He rashly swears an irrevocable vow to grant her whatever she desires, and she demands that he visit her in his true form. He reacts with horror, knowing that his non-human form will instantly kill her. Semele refuses to listen, assuming that Jupiter’s protestations are only to resist granting her immortality. Left alone, Jupiter tries to find a way to save Semele’s life, but is forced to accept his loss. Juno, victorious, re-joins her husband.
Semele sees Jupiter approach as a fiery cloud of lightning and thunder, laments her folly, and is consumed by flames.
Ino, safely returned to earth, announces the tragic news that Semele has perished. Athamus offers Ino unexpected comfort. Jupiter descends with the pleased Juno and announces a decree from Apollo that from Semele’s ashes the unborn child of Semele and Jupiter has risen. Named Bacchus, God of Wine, he will bring a reckless delight to all the earth…
courtesy Opera America / James Darrah
2024-25 Season Announcement
